Iodine is best known for its role in thyroid function. It helps the synthesis of the thyroid hormones T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine). T4 and T3 play an important role in the body's control of metabolism. Low levels of iodine intake are thought to create a cascading series of hormone changes that lead to a hyper-estrogen state, which is linked to poor ovarian, endometrial, depression and breast health.
Iodine deficiency can cause infertility in women and men. Iodine deficiency can lead to lack of ovulation, micarriage, pre-eclampsia during pregnancy, stillborn, hormonal imbalance and menstrual irregularities. If your thyroid is functioning at 10% you can have a 80% miscarriage rate. Many physicians only test your TSH (thyroidstimulating hormone) levels. But there are three thyroid tests you can do: T3, T4 and thyroid antibodies. (Iodine is a component of thyroid hormones.) Some studies show that if your thyroid isn’t working properly, it can be more difficult to get pregnant and maintain a pregnancy.
During my infertility journey, I found out I was lacking in folic acid and iodine. Are you having enough iodine?
Iodine is also extremely important to take 90 days before conception. You must take iodine before the 90 day period before conception. conception because iodine forces out toxic bromine. Therefore, bromine can substitute for iodine where the body uses iodine. This is not good because then this toxic bromine when used instead of iodine messes up the body.
When you first take iodine bro toxic bromine is forced out of the tissues and people get sick from bromine. This temporary detox reaction is blamed on iodine mistakenly. But it is not iodine that is causing the problem. It is bromine that is causing the problem.
Iodine pushing out toxic bromine can cause a rash, acne, hair falling out, emotionality, sinus draining, coughing, mouth and tongue sores, tingling in twitching hands and feet, urination, vision changes, and many other side effects. The most common side effect is vivid dreams. The most worrisome side effect is a sore thyroid. This indicates thyroid cells breaking up. The inside of the thyroid cells may induce a Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Therefore, it is extremely important to start off with small amounts of iodine and work your way up gradually. I like to start with 3 mg per day of iodine or less and increase 5 mg per day every one to two weeks. You should work your way up to 50 mg per day for three months. Then, cut back to 10 mg per day for maintenance.
we need less than one teaspoon of iodine for proper health and development. Since the body cannot store iodine, you need to eat a little bit of it every day. Excess consumption of iodine can also inhibit the synthesis of thyroid hormones, leading to hyperthyroidism, thyroid papillary cancer and iodermia.
Best sources of Iodine:
As always we prefer using food sources before supplementing.
**** Start small before using a iodine supplement and test your thyroid before. When your thyroid is in failure and you start taking kelp supplements, you can literally shut down your thyroid. So avoid kelp!**
1. Iodized Salt:
Iodized salt is the main source of iodine in our diet. Iodized salt consists of table salt combined with minuscule amounts of iodine containing salts. Just one gram of salt provides the body with 77 micrograms of iodine and 0 calories.
2. Sea Vegetables:
Sea vegetables contain excellent sources of iodine. Kelp contains the highest amount of iodine than any other food on this planet. One serving of kelp contains around 2000 micrograms of iodine while one tablespoon of arame contains 730 micrograms of iodine. Wakame is another excellent source of iodine with one tablespoon providing 80 micrograms of iodine.
Again avoid kelp.
3. Baked Potato:
Baked potatoes are another great source of iodine. A medium sized baked potato provides 60 micrograms of iodine, helping you meet 40% of the daily-recommended value. Besides, the baked potato is also rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals and potassium.
4. Codfish:
Fishes are able to extract iodine from the seawater. Cod is a delicious, moist and a low calorie fish that comes packed with several essential nutrients like omega 3 fatty acids, protein, folate, vitamin D, E and potassium. A three-ounce serving of cod provides 99 micrograms of iodine, amounting to 99% of the daily value.
5. Yogurt:
Yogurt is one of the healthiest foods to include in your daily diet. It is also an excellent option for increasing the iodine levels in your body. A cup of yogurt provides 154 micrograms of iodine and 154 calories. So, enjoy yogurt smoothie in your breakfast or combine it with berries for a light evening snack.
Ensure your yogurt contains live probiotics, I prefer Kefir - I do not drink milk due to cysts but I do consume organic 1% kefir or kombucha due to it's high probiotic content.
6. Lobster:
A serving of lobster daily can prevent you from iodine deficiencies. A 100 grams serving of lobster provides 100 micrograms of this essential mineral, around 67% of the daily value. Moreover, lobsters are quite low in fat content, making them a perfect choice for health conscious people. Lower cholesterol levels in lobsters help to maintain the triglyceride levels, thereby keeping the heart healthy. Lobsters are also rich in omega 3 fatty acids.
7. Cranberries:
This bright colored fruit provides a plethora of health benefits. It contains high concentrations of vitamin C, K, B, antioxidants and fiber. This fruit is an amazing source of iodine as well. Four ounces of cranberries provide 400 micrograms of iodine, equaling to 267% of the daily value. Cranberry is also renowned for its positive effects on urinary tract infection. The fruit is low in calories as well. While purchasing packaged juice, be aware of its sugar content.
8. Green Beans:
A half-cup serving of green beans can help you meet 2% of the daily value of iodine. Green beans are a great source of folate, vitamin B, C, protein and potassium as well. It provides nearly 40% of the daily value of folate and 53% of the daily value of fiber, which protects the colon and flushes the amount of toxins from it.
Tips to Optimize the Iodine Levels Naturally:
- Try to purchase as much organic food as possible. Wash all the fruits and vegetables thoroughly to clear the pesticides and other chemicals.
- Avoid eating and drinking from plastic containers.
- Avoid soda and aerated drinks. Drink, pure filtered water instead.
- Your personal care products should be as chemical free as possible.
Will you include these iodine rich food sources to have sufficient levels of iodine in the body system?
Lastly, before taking supplements get tested by your doctor to avoid taking dangerous levels of iodine supplement.
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